Being able to share the gift of travel with my kids is so incredible, but let’s be honest it’s not easy. Today I’m sharing first experience traveling alone with my girls in Real Life: Traveling solo with 2 kids.
Let me start off by saying, flying with children is an experience. One that requires patience, and a certain frame of mind. Kids will poop, tears will flow, you will feel like a pack mule and there may be some unwelcomed looks, but in the end it is worth it.
I recently traveled solo with both my girls for the first time. A 2.5 year old, a 6 month old and a 3 hour flight (oh and a 2 hour delay).
Even before the trip started, packing was key! Since we went to a place with laundry, we packed light. As in 1 roller carry-on for the girls and I plus 1 large backpack. I also had an umbrella stroller and the ergo baby for my baby Beany.
We made it the airport plenty early around 5:45AM for a 7:15AM flight and thanks to us not checking bags (perks of minimalist packing) we avoided an hour-long Delta line due to spring break! YES! Security was a good 25 minutes and stressful as always since I had to convince Poppy to get out of the stroller, fold it up, take out all snacks, liquids, laptop, milk and iPad, and get everything on the conveyor belt with a baby strapped to me.
Just getting through security was a feat! I was a sweaty disheveled mess by this point HA! Thankfully I only had to share a seat with my kids on the plane. From there we headed to the gate which of course was on the other side of the airport. But those airport trams are fun for kids that helped! Like riding the Thomas the train of the airport.
Once we arrived at the gate, I filled up my Nalgene bottle and Poppy’s water bottle and let her run around a little. I checked into the counter at our gate to get pink slips for the stroller and our bag and found out our flight was delayed. New mission at that point, tire my toddler out and kill time.
We went to the airport play ground, went up and down every escalators we could find and took multiple rides on those electric walkways.I’m pretty sure we took the pair of escalators about 6 times 🤣🤣🤣
I attempted to go to the bathroom which was fun to the say the least. Poppy threw a fit because she didn’t want to go in the stall with me, so I literally had to sit her in “time out” in the bathroom stall while I went to the bathroom, again with a baby strapped to me. All in all we managed to run around for about an hour and avoided having to take the Ipad out early.
Once Poppy calmed down we headed back to the gate and made friends with 2 sweet recent college grads on our flight. After 2 hours of waiting, the plane arrived! I had to distract Poppy because she wanted to run thru the tunnel onto the plane as people were deboarding the plane. SHE WAS READY TO GO!
We gate checked the stroller and roller carry-on and boarded the plane! From there it was all a blur. 3 hours of Poppy watching movies and eating animal crackers, while I tried to contain my octopus baby. Beany made friends with everyone on the plane, climbed me, the seat, her sister’s head and even had her diaper changed during turbulence in my lap!
Overall, the kids did great! Although I’m pretty sure I heard angels singing when we landed 🙌🙌
The way back was a bit harder for some reason. We had a longer commute to the airport, and to be honest I was already exhausted just getting to the airport. Security was trickier since I had to maneuver the stroller with one hand,and my roller bag with another through a super tight zigzag roped off maze.
I attempted to wait in line at Starbucks for coffee and 10 minutes later we were somehow nowhere closer to getting coffee. Plus my toddler decided to wanted to leave… you know in a very vocal way. So we headed to the gate where both girls needed diaper changes.
The flight itself was similar to the first one. Poppy was a bit more moody, but did great overall watching her movies and eating snacks. Beany was somehow more wiggly than the first flight. Something I thought was not possible.
Once at our destination we hauled our tired bodies across the airport again to baggage claim. And as we approached the sliding doors to freedom, Poppy decided she didn’t want to leave. She threw herself out of the stroller and started running back into the airport!!
I asked her to come back, which she responded by screaming on the floor between the sliding doors where travelers were exiting. Luckily we were saved by the Hubs who got there just in time to help wrangle Poppy and pack our stuff in the car.
In the car, Poppy finished her screaming tantrum (poor girl was so tired). At that point, I just started crying. Happy tears, sad tears, tired tears. I am still not sure. But whatever they were, they felt good.
It was almost like I had been holding by breathe playing the role of supermom for my kids for the last 5ish hours and once we made it, I need to breath out. Poor hubs, he was a bit concerned that we were all crying hahahahah.
Moral of my first experience traveling solo with the girls: it’s a long and draining process but 100% worth it. I’ll deal with a few exhausting hours if it means my kids can go places and experience new things. So for all you parents out there, just know, it’s not always fun, but your kids will thank you one day!
Now excuse we while I go plan my next solo trip with my travel partners! Each time will be easier right? That’s what I am telling myself.
Happy travels!
Stay tuned for an upcoming posts where I’ll share the things I packed and brought along to make my solo trip with the kids possible!
Does anyone have any good travel stories or experience with littles? Are you nervous about traveling with kids?
Originally posted 2018-04-05 06:00:00.
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